Psychology
The Role of Religion in Shaping Immigration Attitudes
Quick fact
Across Western Europe and North America, regularly attending religious services is often associated with a warmer attitude toward legal immigrants, but countries where religion is central to national identity tend to have more restrictive immigration attitudes overall. This shows religion works at two levels: personal belief and social context.
Why this is interesting
You might assume that being more religious makes you more welcoming to strangers, since many faiths preach hospitality. But public opinion polls show a surprising pattern: sometimes the most religious people are the least welcoming to immigrants. Why is that?
Read the full explanation
Understanding The Role of Religion in Shaping Immigration Attitudes
Religion influences immigration attitudes through two distinct channels: individual beliefs and social identity. On a personal level, most major religions contain universal values like compassion, charity, and the Golden Rule, which can motivate welcoming attitudes. However, religion also anchors social identity—it tells people who belongs to 'their' group and who is different. When a society sees itself as having a religious heritage (e.g., 'Christian nation'), immigrants who are not of that faith may trigger a sense of cultural threat. Moreover, religious communities are close-knit, and their leaders often shape political views. The overall effect depends on whether religious teachings are interpreted as universal or as defining boundaries. For instance, in the U.S., active churchgoers are often more pro-immigration than occasional attendees because they hear sermons about welcoming the stranger, while in Europe, where religion is less tied to individual practice but more to national identity, religious identification correlates with anti-immigration attitudes.
A deeper explanation
The mechanism behind religion's role involves social identity and threat perception. Group-based identity, such as religious affiliation, activates a psychological need for ingroup solidarity and positive distinctiveness. When immigration is seen as a potential threat to the group's culture, values, or resources, this triggers defensive reactions that override universalistic teachings. Specifically, religious fundamentalism—characterized by literal interpretation and a belief in one's exclusive truth—amplifies exclusionary attitudes because it creates a sharp boundary between 'believers' and 'others.' In contrast, religious individuals who practice 'quest' or 'intrinsic' religion, focusing on personal growth and universal compassion, tend to be more open. The context matters: in secular societies, religious institutions may serve as a cultural bastion against perceived foreigners. Moreover, religious leaders can act as gatekeepers, either reinforcing fear or using their moral authority to support sanctuary movements. Thus, religion is not a monolith; its effect on immigration attitudes is a function of the interplay between doctrinal interpretation, identity strength, and the surrounding social environment.